Telltale for locks.



No. 7122,5559. 'IATENTBD JAN. 13, 1903;

J. KOERBBB. TELLTALE FOR LOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29. 1902.

NO iIODBL. I

2???163868: jive 712 115.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN KOERBER, OF AKRON, OHIO.

TELLTALE FOR LOCKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,359, dated January13, 1903.

Application filed May 29, 1902. Serial No. 109,499. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN KOERBER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Telltales for Locks, ofwhich the following is a complete'specification.

My invention has a general relation to im provements in telltale devicesfor looks that indicate by some mechanism orindicia what key has beenused to operate the lock.

The invention contemplates a device to be associated with the lock of adoor the proprietor of which has numerous employees to each of whom heintrusts a particular key that will turn the lock.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved apparatuswhich will be operated by the introduction and use of each key and willby suitable mechanism indicate the particular key used.

To the accomplishment of the aforesaid object my invention consists inthe peculiar and novel construction, arrangement, and combination ofparts hereinafter described and then specificallypointed outin theclaims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference-numeralsindicate like parts in the different figures, Figure l is a front View;Fig. 2, a similar View opened; Fig. 3, the same in section at the line wm of Fig. 1, connected with a door having a mortise-lock; and Fig. 4,agroup of three keys each adapted to operate the lock and to differentlyactuate the telltale.

Referring to these figures, 1 is a case, preferably circular in form andof metal, with a fiat back and projecting rim, to one side of which rimis secured by a hinge 2 a cover 3, which forms a front face for andcloses the case and is secured by a lock 4 of any desired or approvedkind.

Projecting from and secured in the back of the case 1 are a series ofsmall shafts or studs 5, 6, and 7, on which are severally mountedsleeves 8, 9, and 10, on each of which sleeves are respectivelyprojecting lugs 11', 12, and 13, arranged at different distances fromsaid back plate and severally adapted to be engaged by a lug on the keythat is used to operate the lock.

The keys 14, 15, and 16 are each adapted to open the door-lock 20, whichlock may be of any approved or desired pattern, and each key-shaft bearsa stud (marked respectively, 17, 18, and 19) of like size situated atdifierent distances back from the end of the key and severally arrangedto engage one of the lugs 11,12, and 13, respectively, when the key isused and as the key is turned push it around on its respective shaft 5,6, or 7. Hence whichever key is used to open the lock it will, by meansof the contacting lugs, turn one of the sleeves 11, 12, or 13, therebyleaving the lug of that sleeve on the inside of the case out ofposition.

When the proprietor.v desires to know who opened the door, he opens case1, and a moments inspection of the lugs 11, 12, or 13 tells him whichkey was used to unlock the door and enables him to fix theresponsibility on the person to whom he int'rusted the key.

In the drawings no attempt has been made to show any lock. mechanism, asthat forms no part of my invention, but only so much has been made asillustrates the connection of my device with'such mechanism, nor is itintended by the drawings to confine theinvention to mortise-locks, as itis manifestly applicable equally to flush locks.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. An improved telltale for looks consisting of a series of lugs locatedaround a common center, arranged at difierent distances from a commonface, severally revolubly mounted, and severally arranged to be engagedby a lug on a keyshaft, substantially as shown and described.

2. An improved telltale for locks consisting of an inclosing case havingmounted therein a number of revolving sleeves, said sleeves bearinglugs, said lugs situated at diiferent distances from a common face, withkeys capable of operating said lock bearing lugs sevorally adapted tosingly engage one of said sleeve-lugs, substantially as shown anddescribed.

3. A telltale for looks consisting of a casing to inclose a keyhole,sleeves bearing lugs mounted in said casing to designate the par ticularkey used, in combination With a number of keys each bearing lugsdifferently situated on the shanks thereof and arranged to engage thelugs on said sleeves, substantially as shown and described.

at. A telltale for looks consisting of a casing to inclose the keyholeof a lock, means for permitting the locking thereof, lug-bearing sleevesmounted in said casing adapted to be operated by the revolution of a keyin said lock in combination with a number of keys each bearing means ontheir shanks differently located with reference to the lock-operatingportion of said keys, substantially as shown and described.

5. A telltale for looks consisting of a casing to inclose the keyhole ofsaid lock, means to permit the passage of a key through said casing,indicating mechanism mounted in said casing consisting ofdifferently-located lugs to be singly operated by determinate keys,substantially as shown and described.

6. The combination in a telltale for looks of a casing to surround thekeyhole of a lock, means to permit the passage of a key through saidcasing, indicating mechanism to be operated by different keys, incombination with keys bearing projections to actuate said mechanism,substantially as shown and described.

7. The combination in a telltale for looks, of a casing to inclose thekeyhole of a lock, an opening to permit the passage of keys through saideasing into said lock, lug-bearing sleeves situated in said casing, andkeys bearing means to individually operate a determinate lug-bearingsleeve to cause it to partially rotate, substantially as shown anddescribed.

In testimony that I claim the above Ihereunto set my hand in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN KOERBER.

In presence of- O. P. HUMPI-IREY, O. E. I-IUMPHREY.

